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In the last few days, I have been asked several questions about Ijesaland, events and occurrence since the transition of His Imperial Majesty, OBA (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, the Fortieth (recorded) Owa Obokun Adimula.of Ijesaland. A lot have happened which are alien to IJESA Obokun culture. Neophytes continue in their actions of trial error…

The current situation calls sobriety and stock taking. The first theory that came to mind to analyze the issues on ground in Ijesaland is, Imal Masaki’s Incremental theory, which states that decision making involves making small, gradual of changes over time, instead of one large decision. This theory is based on the ideas that decision makers use previous activities, programs and policies as a starting point and then makes small adjustments.

Incremental decision making is a preferred option by making many small decisions one after the other instead of making one big decision at a go. This applies to evaluations and judgements. People find it easier and convenient to make multiple small and evaluation instead of à large complication. Since the demise of Kabiyesi weeks back, one question that continues to repeat itself on my mind is “where did we get it wrong?”.

If less than forty years we had best of men, who on their own are kings in every word of it in other climes, men like Chiefs ,Obaala J.J Ibironke, Lejoka J.D E Abiola, Ogboni Philips of Ilesa, Ogboni Ajifokun Palmer of Ijebu-jesa, Lemodu Ajay ObeSaloro Orunde S.B Bakare, Lokiran Theophilus just to mention a few. Then the question arise, what went wrong with our decision making process as regards our traditional institution as constituted presently. Does one say we have progressed or retrogressed, your guess is as good as mine.

The second applicable theory to the realities of Ijesa land is David Easton’s theory of Declination. Theory of decline is a way looking at crisis as a downward movement. It is complex theory that incorporates issues of crisis situation and decadence The idea that capitalism breeds decadence phases The concept is transitional and involves the relationship subject and object. With glossary look at the incidents of the conferment Loja appointments in Ijesaland in recent time calls for worry.

Another pertinent question most pertinent to ask: Is it culturally possible for an Ilesa metropolitan Chief who is under the Owa Obokun Adimula to now select or appoint for a position that is exclusively the preserve of the Owa Obokun Adimula? The effontery of the installation at the Ijofi Chieftaincy residence of the Léjofi instead of the Aafin Adimula Royal Palace. Another question to ask is that: Is the mourning period of the immediate past Owa Obokun Adimula is appropriate for suçh for conferment? By triplicating the traditional Councils in Ijesaland, each with operating with full autonomy, an Ilesa Metropolitan Chief shouldn’t have install the Awara who is an OBA (formerly a Senior Loja) and belongs to IJESA South Traditional Council. While the Léjofi claiming an Online Chief over Iwara does not hold water in this dispensation. May be the days of sole IJESA Traditional Council, it may be tolerated but now will three independent Traditional Councils, things changed. Each traditional Council carry it own independent autonomous instruments. The only Permanent fixture to Ijesaland is the Owa Obokun Adimula who has been.the sole and absolute monarch incharge of Ijesaland and all her territories for centuries before the 1976, Federal Military Government Local Government Reforms in Nigeria, which saw the elevation of Seventeen (17) district chiefs in Ijesaland elevated to Obaship status. courtesy of the Chiefs wearing Beaded Crown Order, 1976 of Oyo State of Nigeria. However, in early 1990’s cracks started appearing within the Ijesa Traditional Council, which could not be put under control by the Omole Peace Committee set.up by the Osun State Government in 1992 and submitted its report on 7th July, 1992 with a recommendation of the creation of Four Traditional Councils as solution and the Owa Obokun Adimula as Chairman of the four Traditional Councils, which H.I.M OBA Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland rejected instead he took the Osun State Government to court by July, 1997, situation had deteriorated beyond control and the Obas of Oriade and Obokun Local Government Areas of Ijesaland had pulled out of the Ijesa Traditional Council and started the Agitation for the creation of IJESA North Traditional Council. Alayeluwa Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland as Plantiff and Osun State Government as Defendant in suitlost in Osun State High Court of Justice, held before Hon Justice (Dr):T.A Ademakinwaof the OSOGBO division delivered his judgement on Monday, 22nd September, 1997. Alayeluwa Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II challenged the the Osun State Government in court over its competence to create additional traditional Councils in Ijesaland, The specifics of the judgement reads, “The foundation of the Plaintiff (Owa Obokun Adimula G.A Aromolaran II) claim in the present case is the 1st Defendant (Osun State Government) is statutorily obligated to have regards to customs, traditions and views of the majority of the people in Ijesaland before. exercising his power of establishing a traditional Council under section 74 of the Local Government Law Caps 66 of Laws of Oyo State 1978 (a applicable to Osun State) . It has been my findings that the correct. interpretation of the relevant provisions does not support the plaintiffs’claims. It follows that I must hold and I so hold that the Plaintiffs’ statement of Claim has not disclose a reasonable cause of action and that the suit is certain to fail…The Osun State High Court of Justice. Suit No HOS /136/97.Wisdom, tactical and humility, which is the Hallmark of royalty would have prevented the protracted conflict back then. The accusations brought against the Ijesa Obokun Crown then has found a restful place amongst some IJESA Chiefs and OBAS, The rat race for inordinate quest for the mundane: luxury cars and money at the expense of a choice of an excellent Prince, accomplished character and experience personality to feel the vacant stool of our most honoured Royal throne of the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland. Greed, avarice and selfishness started to play itself out…The competitive quest to outsmart the other became the battle cry of our revered chiefs who barely their worth or the enormous responsibilities put atop their heads by Providence in shaping the destiny and future of a people. The peace, prosperity , progress, growth and development of Ijesaland is what I think should be most paramount in the minds of our most revered Chiefs and not mundanes. I thought we had leant our lessons in the past.. Service deliverables is the Hallmark of Chieftaincy not inordinate rewards, I even learnt the Yeyerise Arise Loja Obirin seems not contented as Head of IJESA Female folks as it has been since it was established by my mother. Owa Obokun Adimula Yeye Ori Abejoye. I learn the incumbent want to an Agba IJESA? A lot of anomalies and absurdism found in IJESA chieftain in our most recent history, when it became transactional cash and carry.Their neophyte State doesn’t seems to bother them. The experience ineptitude and lack of knowledge of the traditional office they hold coupled with their roles, functions and responsibilities they hardly know. These bunch of cash and carry Chieftaincy products without virtues is indeed a reflection that my people have lost it and we must find our decency, worth, values and decorum back in to prove who we really as IJESA, people of culture and great tradition.

In IJESA Obokun culture and practice the art and act of Chieftaincy conferment is a process which highly procedural “SE ni tan bi Ona” not transactional. The Owa Obokun Adimula does not deal with individuals but groups. The process starts with the Bajimo, Head of the Lomododo or Omododo, Princes made Dukes and the Agbayewa who approaches any of the five IWOLE Owarisa: Odole, Risawe, Loro, Arapate and Sorundi. They consult with families, and groups when it has to with request for Chieftaincy titles and conferment. What went wrong in our most recent history that turned a beautiful process to transaction is the decadence we currently experience from our Chiefs who desire a return on their perceived investment even if some are still owing…. This is not the IJESA Obokun culture bequeath to us and it has. to stop in the course of time.